Dry battery and method of construction



Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,644

E. E. MEISEKOTHEN DRY BATTERY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H H 35 i'. 5: ii IL LL e Wm --;r-"""u""' :1 6 ii l I y l I Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,644

E. E. MElSEKOTHEN DRY BATTERY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb, 4, 1925 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 ezlse 0%? Futented Jan. 17, 1928.

units!) STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CGMPANY, F MADISON, VVI$CONSIN, GOB-POBATIOLX OF WISCONSIN.

DRY BATTERY AND METHOD 015 CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February This-invention relates particularly to the assembly of dry cells to form a battery; and the primary object is to provide a simple, cheap and eiiective construction and method whereby the cells and connections will be durably insulated. I i

The invention is illustrated in its preterred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a fifteen cell battery involving the invention, the view omitting some of the cells and the sealing compound; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view of the partition-structure employed in the bat tery shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a top plan view of a partition-structure adaptcdior use in a thirtvcell battery; Fig. i, a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 5, a top perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a perspective view of one otthe U-shaped cardboard members shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a perspective view of one of the tl-shaped, transversely disposed cardboard members shown in Fig. 5;- Fig. 8, a transverse vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9, a broken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 9-9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10, a top perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 11, a perspective view of an L-shaped cardboard member employed in the structure shown in Fig. 10. 1

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the construction illustratedcomprises a box, or container, A; a partitionstructure 13, forming cell compartments; dry cells C in said compartments; and a sealing compound D filling the space above the same in the container.

The container, or box, A, may be made of pasteboard, if desired.

The partition-structure, or cell-cavity structure, B, preferably comprises a central longitudinal cardboard member 1 which is ot la -shaped cross-section; and a pair of transverse cardboard, members 2 of til-shaped cross-section, these members being provided with suitable slits, or kerts, and having an intertitting relation, as will best be understood from Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive.

'lfhe member 1 comprises a bottom 1 and upstanding flanges l The member is probetween the cells and e, 1925. Serial No. 65721.

vided at its lowerportion with transverse slits, or lrerts, 1, which cut through the bot tom and also through the flanges to about the center of the height of the flanges. Each transverse member 2 comprises a bottom 2 and vertical flanges 2. The flanges 2 are provided with vertical slits, or kerfs, 2, which extend downwardly from the upper edges of the flanges to an intermediate point. Also, it is preferred to provide the upper edges of the flanges of the difl erent members with tabs 3, where needed, these tabs bein bent over after the cells are introduced an 6 serving to prevent thewire connections between the cells trom coming into contact with theupper edges of thezinc cups.

The longitudinal U-shaped member land the two transverse U-shaped members 2 are titted together in a manner which will be readily understood from Figs. 5 and 8.

Thus, when the members are interfitted, the uncut lower portions of the flanges 2 are received in the transverse slits 1 with which the lower portion of the member 1 is'pro- .vided, and the uncut upper portions of the flanges 1 of the member 1 are received in the slits 2 with which the upper portions of the flanges 2 are provided. l

The spacing of the slits, or kerts, in the various partition members. are so arranged that the slits of the transverse members will register in plan with the slits of the longitudinal member. Thus, when the structure is assembled, there are provided cell-cavities 4 of uniform size and of rectangular crosssection. Theouter rows of cavities are completed when the partition-structure B is introduced into the container A, the edges of the vertical flanges then abutting against thevertical walls of the container.

It will be understood from Fig. 2 that when the members forming the partition.- structure are assembled, some of the cellcavities are provided with bottoms, and some are left unprovided with bottoms. The cell-cavities provided with bottoms alter nets with those which are not provided with bottoms, and there is no case where two adjacent cell-cavities are unprovided with bottoms. When the partition-structure is introduced into the container A, the bottom of the container affords a wall which consti tutesa bottom for those cell-cavities which cell because of intervening walls.

are not provided with bottoms in the partition-structure itself. It will be noted that in the event of the escape of electrolyte from any cell, it cannot pass to an adjacent Any suitable material, or composition, maybe employed in constructing the partition-structure. It is preferred to employ cardboard, water-proofed by means of creosote, asphaltum, paraffin, or other suitable substance of water-proofing and insulating character.

In practice, the slits, or kerts, are so narrow as to form close'contaot with the flanges which they accommodate, so that there is a close interlitting relation. The connections between the cells may be made in any desired manner. In the illustration given, the carbon pole of a given cell C is connected with the zinc cup of the next adjacent cell by awire 5. The tabs 3 are bentover so as tonnderlie the wire connections and prevent any possibility of contact with the upper edge of the zinc can. After the cells have been assembled in the cell-cavities, and suitably connected, a pitch, or wax, conr pound is poured into the upper portion ol. the container. This molten compound also flows down into the spaces in the cell-cavities around the cells. The sealing compound is designated D in Fig. 9.

In the construction shown in 3, 4:, 10 and 11, the partition-structure is designated B. In this structure the tabs are omitted from the upper edges of the flanges. These figures show a partition-strueture suitable for a battery of thirty cells. This structure comprises two U-shaped longitudinal members 6; two transverse U-shaped members 7; and one transverse L-shaped member 8. The vertical flanges of the several members are provided with slits, or

kerfs, in the manner stated with reference. to the previously described construction. Thus, the longitudinal members 6 have their bottoms and the lower portions of their vertical flanges provided with transverse slits, 6; the transverse members? have the upper portions of their vertical flanges provided with slits, 7?; and the transverse mom her 8 has the upper portion of its vertical flange provided with slits, 8 The horieas es zontal flange 8 of the member 8 affords a bottom wall.

The partitioil-structure B is introduced into a container of suitable size, and the battery is completed in the manner stated in connection with the previously described construction.

From the description given, it will he understood that a container may, in accordance with the invention, be divided into cellcavities by introducing a partitioil-structure of the character described, and that the improved partition-struetm'e itsell. oi. such a character as to properly separate each cell from each adjoining cell. This is true with respect not only to the vertical partition walls, but also with respect to the bottom walls. It is incidental to. the construction that at some points, as tor example, where a botom wall 2 crosses beneath the bottom Wall 1, the partitionstructure itself pro-- vides two thicknesses oil. "all at the bottom. and at other points, the bottomwalls of the partition-structure may provide only a. single thickness; and at still other points, the partition-strt1eture itself Jrovidcs no bottom wall, in which case the cell rests directly upon the bottom oil the container A.

The toregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understandin r only, and no mmecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claim should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

hat- I regard as new, and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is:

A battery PHI'l liT-lOIl-SllltlClLltl'G comprising a plurality of parallel independent cardboard members of Ushaped cros" tiou, each of said members having transverse slits intersecting its bottom wall and the lower portions of its flanges, and a transversely disposed U-shaped cardboard member having the upper portions of its flanges provided with slits, said memliers having: interfitting, engagement at said slits and the bot tom wall of thetransverse member nude"- lying portions ot the bottom walls of the first-mentioned members and said flanges having tabs formed integrally with their upper portions, for the purpose set forth.

EDlVIN 1E. MEISEKOTHEN, 

